The De Koning family didn’t know what to do when Carlton’s Tom kicked a goal on Geelong’s Sam.
The two brothers were pitted against each other in the ruck for the top-eight AFL blockbuster between their two clubs on Friday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom De Koning kicks a goal on brother Sam.
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Tom and Sam De Koning have played against each other a number of times now, but have rarely gone head to head in the ruck, with Sam usually assuming his regular role in defence.
But it was just like the backyard all over again on Friday night as they stared each other down from the first bounce of the game.
And it was barely more than a minute into the game when older brother Tom asserted his dominance in the contest.
The dynamic Carlton ruck shoved his brother out of his way in a forward-50 stoppage to grab the ball out of the ruck and snap a brilliant goal.
“Tommy De Koning — quality. He just gets better and better,” James Brayshaw said on commentary.
Luke Hodge added: “That was just the smarts from Tom.
“Sam was obviously too worried about his brother. But then after that, the Carlton boys, Cripps, got across to Sam.
“Imagine the parents though; brother v brother out in the middle, the emotions after the goal.”
Cameras quickly shot to the De Koning family watching from the stands, who were clearly torn, not knowing whether to cheer for Tom or sympathise with Sam.
Sam later got one back on his brother after Tom gave away a free kick in the third quarter.
Tom cleaned up Sam when he flew for a mark that was deemed unrealistic by the umpire, who blew the whistle to give the Geelong utility a shot at goal inside 50.
The brothers’ mother again became the focus of the broadcast as she blew a kiss to her two sons from the stands.